Horopito
and Candida
What is Candida?
Candida is the name for a group of yeasts (a yeast is a type of fungus), that commonly infect the skin and mucus membranes. A candida infection is known as candidiasis, candidosis or thrush.
Candida is a normal part of the human digestive tract and gut microbiome, where most of the time it lives without causing any problems. When someone is in full health, the natural balance of healthy bacteria in our gut keeps Candida under control. However, if a person’s defences are lowered, Candida can cause infection of the mucosa – the lining of the vagina, anus or mouth, digestive system or the skin.
Candida Overgrowth
Factors that make someone more likely to get a candida infection include infancy or old age, warm climate, non-breathable clothing (nappies, synthetic underwear), high estrogen, diabetes, broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, and general debility (i.e. malnutrition or immunodeficiency).
Candida infections can occur in the mouth (oral thrush), genitals (vulvovaginal candidiasis), on babies from wearing nappies (nappy rash), in the nail plate (onychomycosis), and on the skin – for example in folds of skin that can be moist and warm like under the breasts, arm’s, folds of skin and between toes.
Vaginal thrush is a significant problem with 75% of women experiencing at least one bout of vaginal thrush in their lifetime. Worldwide, recurrent thrush affects about 138 million women annually.¹
Horopito offers a fast, effective and natural solution to fungal overgrowth. A webinar for practitioners about Horopito as a novel therapy for Candida overgrowth can be viewed using the link below.
Horopito - a treatment for Vaginal Thrush
Two clinical studies have shown that Horopito extract taken orally is effective as a natural treatment for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC).
In a 2011 study, 82 women with a history of RVVC were enrolled.² The women were randomly assigned to receive either a pharmaceutical (Itraconazole), or a Horopito extract. In a second clinical study,³ 122 women with a history of RVVC were enrolled and were randomly assigned to either an itraconazole treatment group or a Horopito treatment group.
In both clinical trials, the rate of “mycological cure” was comparable between the two groups, meaning Horopito was just as effective as Itraconazole. More information on these studies can be found Research summary: Horopito for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
Long Term Antifungal Benefits
Horopito offers benefits above and beyond the standard pharmaceuticals. In the two clinical trials mentioned in the previous section, after the treatment had stopped, those who had been taking Horopito had fewer recurrent bouts (relapses), than those women who had been taking the standard pharmaceutical treatment.
Horopito also reduces the development of fungi that are resistant to drugs. These so called ‘azole-resistant’ fungal species are much harder to kill with antifungal treatments and this can cause long term resistance whereby fungal conditions become harder and harder to treat.
The Importance of Polygodial
The main active constituent of Horopito is the sesquiterpene dialdehyde, polygodial.⁴ Polygodial exhibits significant fungicidal activity, especially against Candida albicans.⁵ ⁶ Therefore when using Horopito for management of candida overgrowth it is important to choose Horopito that has been tested independently for polygodial activity.
There are a range of Horopito products available to help support and manage candida overgrowth including herbal supplements, creams and washes.
References
1. Denning DW, Kneale M, Sobel JD, Rautemaa-‐Richardson R. Global burden of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: a systematic review. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018 Nov;18(11):e339-e347.
2. Kumari, A., Bishier, M. P., Naito, Y., Sharma, A., Solimene, U., Jain, S., Yadava, H., Minelli, E., Momella, C., & Marotta, F. (2011). Protective effect of an oral natural phytonutrient in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: a 12-‐month study. Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents, 25 (4), 543–551.
3. Chopra V., Marotta F., Kumari A., Bishier M.P., He F., Zerbinati N., Agarwal C., Naito Y., Tomella C., Sharma A., Solimene U. (2013) Prophylactic strategies in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: a 2-year study testing a phytonutrient vs itraconazole. Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents, 27(3):875-82.
4. McCallion RF et al. Antibiotic compounds from New Zealand plants, II:polygoidal, an anti-‐candida agent from Pseudowintera colorata. Planta Med 44:134 1982.
5. Lee SH et al. In vitro antifungal susceptibilities of Candida albicans and other fungal pathogens to polygoidal, a sesquiterpene dialdehyde. Plant Med. 65:204-8. 1999.
6. Calder VL, Cole AJL, Walker JRL. 1986. Antibiotic compounds from New Zealand plants III: A survey of some New Zealand plants for antibiotic substances. Trans Royal Soc NZ 16(2):169-181